12 May 2008

Major disasters in Asia

Between a cyclone in Burma, and today's earthquake in China's Sichuan Province, at least 40,000 people have been killed, according to the reports.

I can't even fathom how horrible it must be - especially for the survivors who have lost their loved ones, and in case of Burma, are not getting the help they desperately need in order to survive, due to government restrictions on aid workers' entry into the country. The importance of a good, responsive government, working for the people as opposed to itself, cannot be emphasized enough.

The Sichuan quake appears to be 7.9 on the Richter scale, about what the 1906 San Francisco quake is estimated to have measured. This reminds me that it can happen to me anytime, too.

My thoughts are with the victims of these horrible disasters.